Can Royal Mail protect strike breakers from their managers?

[topgeezer]

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=19432

by Yuri Prasad

Royal Mail wrote to all its employees last week to offer them “protection” should they choose to break this week’s strike—but just how far will Royal Mail go to shield strike breakers from the company’s own managers?

That is the question being asked by strikers at the NDC depot in Crick, Northamptonshire, after it emerged that three strike-breakers from their workplace are being investigated by bosses.

The three chose to work during last week’s strike and were asked to report to a mail centre in Birmingham.

However, after it was alleged that they left their shift early, all three now face disciplinary action for “moving from point of duty”. This is potentially a sackable offence.

Pickets at Crick are wondering whether the accused—who have become known as the Birmingham Three—will now seek union representation in any disciplinary action that follows.

They also want to see whether Royal Mail decides that their managers have been uncharacteristically overzealous in their crackdown.

The following should be read alongside this article:
» Millionaire boss vs post strikers: Which side are you on?
» Exclusive: We reveal what is happening in scab mail centre
» No deal—force post bosses to surrender
» Determination on picket lines shows the way to win
» National post strike was rock solid
» Is Royal Mail breaking the law to try and beat the strike?
» Special delivery! Solidarity for striking post workers
» Going all out is the way to win
» Notes from a postal worker in the north: strike breakers are the real turkeys
» Post dispute round-up
» Photos from national post strike, Thursday 29 October 2009
» Who was behind Ipswich anti-post strike protest?
» 'Staying solid': Reports from Thursday's post strikes


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[DGP1]

[coxie]

i like it how they didnt back the uinion and strike but now they r in trouble they go running to the union for help

[Pat Ostman]

i like it how they didnt back the uinion and strike but now they r in trouble they go running to the union for help

To be fair the article says the strikers are wondering if the CWU will protect them, not the strikebreakers.

Will be interesting though. Legally the CWU do if they have paid their subscriptions.

[stokes11eg]

This is a nice warning to all who got those letters,and were thinking of crossing the line. Once again, R/M show that they are liars--protect the staff. Send it to the newspapers.

[NWpostie]

i like it how they didnt back the uinion and strike but now they r in trouble they go running to the union for help

To be fair the article says the strikers are wondering if the CWU will protect them, not the strikebreakers.

Will be interesting though. Legally the CWU do if they have paid their subscriptions.

I can understand that but however by crossing the line they have put them outside the Union and should have been expelled and subs cancelled, it would difficult for a Rep from that Office to represent them in such circumstances, If I was a Rep I would decline citing conflict of interest and ask for an external Rep to take over instead.

It does not surprise me about the behavior of RM Management with regards to strike breakers, you are only useful to them as the circumstances requires and once its over you are dropped and mistrusted for the lack of loyalty and fibre, no one trusts a Traitor, as Benedict Arnold did found out when he traded his Country for a Commission in the British Army. he got his Commission but was never fully trusted.

[bogstandard]

i told our strikebreaker that they were no longer a member as far as i knew. He stated he was and should be represented, i and my colleagues told him to speak to branch, branch contacted us and told us to represent him we said no we would rather resign our positions. never heard anymore.